How can I get help with my bill?

The following is a list of agencies that may be able to provide assistance in your time of need:

SKYWAY/SALVATION ARMY'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CAP) Skyway Water and Sewer District and the Renton Salvation Army are working together to provide utility bill payment assistance to all qualifying Skyway customers. The Salvation Army will administer the program and screen all applicants for eligibility. If you are in need of help in paying your water or sewer bill, please give us a call at 206-772-7343. We will provide you with necessary account information and refer you to a Salvation Army social service representative for screening and assistance. To reach the Renton Salvation Army directly, you may call 425-255-5969.

COMMUNITY INFO LINE-CRISIS CLINIC (Information Resource Agency) (206)461-3200 www.crisisclinic.org Crisis Clinic offers an array of support services available to everyone in King County. Their telephone services provide immediate, confidential assistance for people in emotional distress, as well as those needing information on health and human service organizations. Crisis Clinic's online resource database has comprehensive information on over 7,800 services in King County.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL (206)767-6449

SOUTH KING COUNTY MULTI SERVICE CENTER (Energy Only) (253)854-3437 ext. 106

Be pleasant (do not be impatient or rude). These people also want to help you out of your difficulties. Sometimes you will have the wrong agency for your problem. (Keep trying, with a smile.)

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. Most help will involve an appointment and this could take several weeks.

ON YOUR OWN, ASK EACH COMPANY where you are BEHIND IN YOUR BILLS if they have a budget plan or a plan that lets you pay a small amount of cash on a consistent basis. THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

If you find a helpful person, THANK THEM. Do not talk negative about any organization.

Learn to budget and set aside moneys for utilities ALL YEAR LONG. Even if you don't use heat in the summer, you can set aside some extra cash for fall and winter.

SET A GOAL. A DOLLAR A DAY SET ASIDE WILL ADD UP TO PAY YOUR UTILITY BILL. YOU CAN DO IT!! START NOW! ONE DAY AT A TIME! GOOD LUCK!!

Why am I billed for Capacity Charge?

The sewer charges on your Skyway bill are for maintenance of the District's sewer lines and for treatment and disposal at King County Wastewater Treatment facilities. To keep up with growth, protect public health and the environment, King County must expand its infrastructure by building more pipes, pump stations, and treatment plants. Capacity charge helps evenly spread these costs and ensures that "growth pays for growth". In addition to your Skyway bill, customers who connected to the sewer after February 1, 1990 are billed by King County for capacity charge.

It is Skyway Water & Sewer District's policy that all properties be listed and billed to the legal property owner. However, as an additional service for our owner/tenant customers, the District can send a duplicate bill to the tenant for $1.00 per copy and a one-time setup fee of $5.00. This is also beneficial to the property owner so they may monitor all activities that transpire on their accounts. DOWNLOAD DUPLICATE BILLING REQUEST FORM

Why is my sewer rate so high?

In the Seattle area, sewer rates are complex as they include both local and regional components. Water quality standards in our region are some of the highest in the country. Sewage and wastewater is collected, transported, treated several times over, and emptied into Puget Sound at drinking water quality. Additionally, all bi-products of the sewage collection/treatment process (methane gas, reclaimed water, etc.) are harnessed and recycled for reuse and/or resale, including energy production and the like. All of this comes at a cost of course. But protection of our public health and environment is something that residents/voters in the Northwest take seriously. Most are willing to pay for the quality of life/environment that we enjoy in our region.

Why is my water discolored?

If you notice discolored water or air within your system, there may be some activity that has disturbed the flow in the District's water main - use of fire hydrant or water main valve near you. Please run an outside hose bib or your cold water supply at your bathtub to flush your system.

Where does my water come from?

Skyway Water and Sewer District is a conglomeration of several previously separate water systems, there are three separate water sources of supply to the system. They are:

Cascade Water Alliance

City of Renton

District Wells

Depending on where you live, you may receive water from one or more of these sources.

How can I tell if I have a leak?

When all water is off, observe the needle located on the face of the water meter. It should be stationary. If the needle is moving, this indicates a leak on your side of the meter. If you need the assistance of a District representative, you may call us to set-up an appointment at 206-772-7343 between 7:30 AM and 4:00 PM.

Do you flush trouble?

Here are some more helpful tips.

Use screens to keep hair, fruit stickers and other stuff out of drains and pipes.

Scrape out greasy bowls, pots and pans before washing. Keep fatty foods and meats out of the garbage disposal, and put cooled, solidified grease in the trash.

Don’t put unwanted medications down the toilet or sink. Worried about keeping discarded meds away from kids or pets? Many pharmacies across King County now take back expired or unwanted medications for safe disposal.

Got paint, pesticides and other household chemicals you no longer need or want? King County’s Wastemobile and Household Hazardous Waste Dropoff sites are a much safer alternative to putting these things down the drain or in the trash.

What to do during a sewer backup?

Residents should notify the District by calling 206-772-7343 during office hours or 206-726-4161 after hours. A District representative is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for water and sewer emergencies. For more information on what to do during a sewer back up, CLICK HERE

How do I find buried utility lines?

To protect property and prevent personal injury, Washington State Law (RCW 19.122) requires that you notify the Underground Utilities Locating Center (UULC) at 1-800-424-5555 if you are planning to dig a depth of 12-inches or more. Under state law, if you fail to call before you dig and damage any utility lines as a result, you may have to pay a fine of up to three times the cost of repairing the lines. You must call at least two business days before you dig. UULC will obtain information from you regarding your location and project. They will then notify Skyway Water & Sewer District and other utilities in the area. District field staff and/or other utility representatives will come out to your site and mark the location of the underground lines for you, free of charge. Once the site has been marked or you have been notified that the utility has nothing at your dig site, you can begin to dig safely. Link: www.callbeforeyoudig.com.